Unit 13: Graphs

By: K.Minh
What is a graph?
A graph is a useful way to show the connection between two variables.

Graphs are a way of showing information as images that are easy to

understand.

In this unit, we learned to start with coordinates and then look at the
simplest type of graph on a coordinate grid: a straight line.
 • Graphs are drawn on coordinate grids, on squared paper. 
• A coordinate grid is a pair of number lines(axes) at right angles to
each other and crossing at the point where the value on both
number lines is zero(origin) 
• On a coordinate grid, based on the values of two variables x and y,
the horizontal axis is the x-axis. The vertical one is the y-axis. 
• You can identify any point on a coordinate grid by stating its
coordinates. These are the x-value and the y-value at the given
point. They are written as a pair, in brackets.
• The x-coordinate/value is the distance of the point from the origin
along the horizontal axis. RIght is positive;left is negative.
•  The y-coordinate/value is the distance up or down the vertical
axis. Up is positive;down is negative.
13.1 Plotting • You should always write the x-coordinate first.

coordinates
Coordinate
grid
• The coordinates of the 4
points marked on the grid
above are: A(3,4), B(-3,2),
C(-2,-4) and D(6,-3) 
 • 1.The coordinates of three corners of a

13.1 Worked square are (4, 1), (4, −5) and (−2, −5). a
Find the coordinates of the fourth

Example corner. b Find the coordinates of the

centre of the square: 
• a.Draw a coordinate grid. Plot the three
points and join them up to form two
lines at right angles. Draw two more
lines to give the other sides of a
square. 
• b.Write down the coordinates of the
fourth corner.Draw in the diagonals
(shown in red).
 a.

13.1 Worked
Example
The fourth corner is at (-
2,1).

b.

The centre is at (1,-2).

They cross at the centre
of the square
 13.2 Lines
parallel to the
axes
• On this grid, the red line through A(4, 1)
and B(4, −5) has been extended in both
directions. Some other points on the red
line are: (4, 3) (4, 5) (4, −3) (4, 0) (4, −4) (4,
2) (4, −6)  They all have an x-coordinate of
4. Every point with an x-coordinate of 4 will
be on this line. An equation is like a rule
connecting x and y. The equation of the red
line is x = 4.  The line x = 4 is perpendicular
to the x-axis and passes through the 4 on
the x-axis.  The diagram also shows the lines
x = 2 and x = −5. The equation of the y-axis
is x = 0.  
13.2 Lines parallel to the axes
• These points are on the blue line drawn here: (5, 3) (−4, 3) (2, 3) (−2,
3) (0, 3)  The y-coordinate of points on this line is always 3.  The
equation of the blue line is y = 3. Th e equations of the other lines are
y = −2 and y = −5.  The equation of the x-axis is y = 0
 • 1. Find the equation of the line
through these points. A. P and
Q b. Q and R c. R and S d. S
and T. 
•  2a.On a coordinate grid, draw
13.2 Worked and label the lines x = 7 and y
Example = −4. B. Write down the
coordinates of the point where
the lines cross.
 • 1.a.x=2, b.y=3, c.x=-3, d.y=-2
• 2.a.

13.2 Worked X=7

Example Y=-4

• b. (-4,7)
 13.3 Other
straight lines
• You can use an equation to find pairs of values
of x and y that obey the rule.
• Look at the equation y = x + 2. Choose any value
for x and then work out the corresponding
values of y. Each time you will get the
coordinates of a point. • If x = 4 then y = 4 + 2 =
6  is gives the coordinates (4, 6). • If x = 1 then y
= 1 + 2 = 3  is gives the coordinates (1, 3). • If x =
−3 then y = −3 + 2 = −1  is gives the coordinates
(−3, −1). • If x = 0 then y = 0 + 2 = 2  is gives the
coordinates (0, 2). If you plot these points, you
can draw a straight line through them. Any
other points you  nd, using this equation, will be
on the same line, y=x+2
• If your line is not straight, check you have
worked out the coordinates correctly
13.3 • a Complete this table of values for y = 5 − 3x.
b Use your table to draw the graph of y = 5 −
Worked 3x.
example x -2 -1 0 2 3
y 8 -2
 a. x -2 -1 0 2 3
y 11 8 5 -1 -4

• If x = −2 then y = 5 − 3 ×
13.3 b.
−2 = 11
• If x = 0 then y = 5 − 3
Worked ×0=5
• If x = 3 then y = 5 − 3 × 3
example = −4
• Think carefully about the
numbers you put on the axes.
• The x-axis must include −2
and 3. The y-axis must include
−4 and 11.
• Make sure you can plot all
five points.
• The points are in a straight
line. Draw a line through all
the points.
• Make the line as long as the grid
allows.
 In conclusion:
You should know that:
• The x-axis is horizontal and the y-
axis is vertical.
• The first coordinate is the x-
coordinate and the second coordinate is the
y-axis.
• Coordinates can
be positive, negative, or zero.
• Straight lines on a coordinate grid have equ
ations.
• Lines with equations of the type x=2 or y=-
3 are parallel to y-axis or x-axis respectively
• An equation such as y=2x-3 can
be used to work out coordinates and draw a
 straight-line graph.
You should be able to:
• Read and plot positive and negative coordi
nates of points determined by geometric  in
formation.
• Regconise straight-line graphs parallel to
the x-axis and y-axis.
• Generate coordinate pairs that satisfy a lin
ear equation, where y is given expilicity in t
erms of x, and plot the corresponding grap
hs.
• Draw accurate mathematical graphs.
• Regconise mathematical properties, patter
ns and relationships, generalising in simple
 cases
Thank you for your attention